Tenerife beheading suspect 'treated in Welsh hospital'

Jennifer Mills-Westley had retired to Tenerife

The man accused of beheading a British grandmother in Tenerife had been treated in a psychiatric unit in north Wales, it has emerged.

Deyan Deyanov was reported to be visiting relatives when he was detained for his own safety at Glan Clwyd Hospital's Ablett Unit, Denbighshire.

Last week, Jennifer Mills-Westley, 60, was murdered in Los Cristianos.

Health officials in north Wales said they had had no contact with Mr Deyanov since October 2010.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which manages the hospital, said: "The health board can confirm that it provided assistance to North Wales Police in relation to a person detained for his own safety in the summer of 2010.

"The health board has had no further contact with this client since October last year."

It is being reported that Mr Deyanov, 28, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Health officials have given few details, citing patient confidentiality as the reason.

The statement said: "We are currently reviewing all records relating to the case in line with standard clinical procedures.

"We will be co-operating with other statutory agencies but have a duty to protect patient confidentiality and will therefore not be making further statements regarding the case at this time."

It is not clear if he was allowed to leave the psychiatric unit after being assessed as safe, or if he absconded.

The Sun reported that Mr Deyanov, 28, a Bulgarian national, was sectioned during a visit to see relatives in the UK and quoted two of his ex-girlfriends claiming he was a heavy drug user.

North Wales Police would not comment but denied one newspaper report that it had built up a profile of Mr Deyanov and his time in the UK.

Mrs Mills-Westley, originally from Norwich, Norfolk, was inside a supermarket, which sells Chinese food and tourist souvenirs, on Avenida Juan Carlos when she was stabbed and decapitated.

The grandmother of five had been living in Tenerife after retiring from her job as a road safety officer with Norfolk County Council.

Reports from Tenerife suggest Mr Deyanov had previously received psychiatric treatment on the island.

A search and arrest order was issued for Mr Deyanov on 10 May, just three days before the killing.

The BBC's Sarah Rainsford said a magistrate had ordered his arrest in connection with a violent attack.

Mr Deyanov was arrested on suspicion of murder and is now being held at a psychiatric unit in Tenerife.